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MANAGING WAITING TIMES: A GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE

APPENDIX A
WAITING TIMES, GUARANTEES AND TARGETS

Hospital Inpatient and Day Case Treatment

• No patient with a guarantee should wait longer than 12 months for inpatient or day case treatment. This will be reduced to 9 months from 31 December 2003 and to 6 months from 31 December 2005.

These targets are firm guarantees. If a patient's host NHS Board is unable to provide treatment within the target time, the patient will be offered treatment elsewhere in the NHS, in the private sector in Scotland, or England, or overseas.

Coronary Heart Disease

• From 31 December 2002, the maximum wait from angiography to surgery or angioplasty will be 24 weeks. This will be reduced to 18 weeks by 31 December 2004.

These targets are firm guarantees. If a patient's host NHS Board is unable to provide treatment within the target time, the patient will be offered treatment elsewhere in the NHS, in the private sector in Scotland, or England, or overseas.

Cancer

• By 31 October 2001, women who have breast cancer and need urgent treatment will get it within one month where appropriate.

• By 31 October 2001, the maximum wait from urgent referral to treatment for children's cancer and acute leukaemia will be one month.

• By 31 December 2005, no patient urgently referred for cancer treatment should wait more than 2 months.

Coronary Heart Disease

• From 31 December 2002, the maximum wait for angiography will be 12 weeks from seeing a specialist. This will be reduced to 8 weeks from
  31 December 2004.

Outpatients

• By 31 December 2005, no patient should wait more than 6 months for a first outpatient appointment with a Consultant, following referral by GMP/GDP.

Primary Care

• From 31 March 2004, everyone should get access to an appropriate member of a primary care team within 48 hours.

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